Former champion Miyo Yoshida of Misako Boxing Gym eked out a split decision over Tomoko Okuda of Mitsuki Boxing Gym on June 29 to win back the World Boxing Organization world female super flyweight title she lost to her last December.

While there were no knockdowns during the 10-round bout at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall, two of the three judges scored the fight 96-94 in favor of the 33-year-old Yoshida. But the third judge had it 96-94 for Okuda, 38.

Neither boxer failed to land decisive blows throughout the fight. But Yoshida got inside of her taller opponent in the fourth round and unleashed rapid combinations. Okuda, meanwhile sticked out left jabs before landing straight rights in the fifth stanza.

Yoshida took the sixth round with her right-hand punches and increased her pace while Okuda counted her by throwing short punches. But neither failed to connect with big punches.

With the victory, Yoshida improved her record to 13 wins against two defeats. Meanwhile, Okuda, known widely as a high-school teacher-cum-boxer, fell to a 7-3-1 win-loss-draw record with a knockout.